This is it.
One last shot at reaching the $1 million mark in earnings.
One last chance at winning the North American horse of the year honour.
One last opportunity to find the winner's circle.
In what will likely be the last race of his brilliant career, former Alberta harness horse American Ideal will start tomorrow night in the $555,000 US Breeders Crown three-year-old pace at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
A victory will mean $1.1 million in career earnings and a legitimate shot at being named horse of the year.
"It is very nerve-racking," said the colt's majority owner Mac Nichol, who lives in St. Albert.
"It's too bad we didn't win last week because that would have eased a lot of the pain."
American Ideal finished second to rival Rocknroll Hanover last weekend in one of the elimination heats.
Usually that type of performance doesn't matter in an elimination heat because the top few still advance to the big dance where the big money is on the table.
But in the Breeders Crown -- essentially the Super Bowl of North American harness racing -- the winner of the elimination heat gets to choose the post position while the rest of the field is stuck with the luck of the draw.
BEHIND THE GATE
So, Rocknroll Hanover will start from the coveted two hole behind the gate while American Ideal drew Post 9.
It's a horrendous post position -- but it is nothing new for American Ideal.
He drew Post 10 for both the $1.5 million North America Cup in June and the $1 million US Meadowlands Pace in July.
To no surprise, he lost both to Rocknroll Hanover.
However, American Ideal made headlines across the continent this fall by smashing the all-time world speed record for three-year-old pacers with a sizzling 1:47.4 effort in Kentucky.
That is why a win tomorrow night against Rocknroll Hanover, coupled with the world record, might be enough to convince voters to give American Ideal the horse of the year honour.
One thing is certain, though: Northlands Park-based trainer Jim Martin will be at the Meadowlands in New Jersey to watch the race live with his own two eyes.
It's a trip of a lifetime for Martin, as he trained American Ideal as a baby at Northlands Park and Stampede Park in Calgary before the colt left for the bright lights and big paydays in Ontario and along the eastern seaboard in the United States.
"This is exactly the same as the Breeders' Cup for thoroughbred racing," said Martin, describing the importance of the Breeders Crown in the harness racing world.
"I hope to be waving to you from the winner's circle."
But Martin knows that is a tough assignment because of Post 9.
"There's no doubt about that," he exclaimed.
"A lot of things have to go well for you. If you take back, there will have to be a hot pace (on the front end)."
But Martin knows anything can happen in horse racing.
"Escapable Beaux had the eight hole in the Western Canada Pacing Derby and it worked just fine," he said.
TOP HARNESS RACE
When American Ideal started his career in Calgary in 2004 it appeared he would be in that Pacing Derby -- Edmonton's top harness race -- this past spring.
However, when he was sent to Ontario during the winter and passed his first three tests with flying colours, he was destined to stay to challenge the best in the business.
Now he has a chance to be the best on the continent before being retired to stud.
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BY THE NUMBERS
Purchase price for American Ideal in 2003
$839,428 -- Lifetime earnings
28 -- Lifetime races
22 -- Top three finishes
6 -- Races on Alberta soil last year
$25,550 -- Combined money earned in those races
$813,878 -- Combined money earned since leaving Alberta
